Faith and Practice
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Part II: The Form of Government
Chapter 2—General Organization
Section 1—The Local Meeting
A. Organization and Composition
1. Composition
The local Friends meeting is an organization, which consists of all those persons recorded on its list of members.
2. Regular Meetings
Sunday and mid-week services of instruction, worship, and evangelism are held in conformity with the schedule adopted. Business sessions are held at intervals no longer than three months apart, more often if desired, plus called sessions when circumstances require. In all such sessions all members are urged to be present and to take part in reaching decisions.
3. Called Sessions
A special business session may be called when it seems necessary in the judgment of Pastor and/or Presiding Clerk. Such a called session, or a session adjourned to meet at the call of the clerk, is announced in the regular Sunday morning service at least three days prior to the selected date of the session. The business must be stated in the call and limited to the purpose of the call or adjournment.
4. Functions
The local meeting is the general policy-making body. It has authority
To call and contract pastoral or other services;
To adopt the annual budget;
To accept and dismiss members;
To hold and administer real estate and other property for the use of the meeting; and,
To consider, adopt, and carry out measures in the interest of the meeting and community at large.
5. Incorporation
Local meetings are at liberty to incorporate in harmony with the Faith and Practice of Rocky Mountain Yearly Meeting of the Friends Church and state laws.
6. Representation in the Yearly Meeting Sessions
The local meeting appoints annually one representative for each twenty resident active members or major fraction thereof to serve on the Representative Body of the Yearly Meeting. One of the representatives to Yearly Meeting shall be appointed to the local Executive Council. Alternates to serve as representatives may be appointed at the discretion of the meeting. Representatives are responsible to report on and assist in the implementation of all action taken at Yearly Meeting to the local meeting.
7. Extension Churches and Mission Points
A local meeting may be asked by the Yearly Meeting to sponsor an extension church in its geographical area (see New Work and New Meetings.) The extension meeting may appoint annually one representative to the Yearly Meeting sessions. A mission point may be initiated by the local meeting or by the Yearly Meeting and placed under the care of the local meeting strategically located.
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